Rwanda and Toronto-based Almonty Industries have agreed to work together on tungsten exploration and processing, in a project supported by a new US economic partnership.
Under the deal announced on Monday, Rwanda will own 25% of Almonty Rwanda Pty Ltd, while Almonty will hold the remaining 75%. Rwanda’s contribution includes the Shyorongi tungsten exploration concession and a mineral processing licence.
The partnership was facilitated through an introduction by the US Department of State and is linked to the 2025 US-Rwanda Framework for Shared Economic Prosperity.
The agreement comes as the United States and other Western countries look to develop mineral supply chains outside China. Tungsten is considered an important mineral because it is used in industries including defence, manufacturing and technology.
Almonty said the project will initially use ore, pre-concentrated material and mining waste from existing producers, including small-scale miners. Some of the material could be exported or further processed in Rwanda.
The company also plans to use a mobile unit to process mining waste while exploring the 32-square-kilometre Shyorongi concession. The longer-term goal is to establish a central processing facility.
Rwanda is already one of Africa’s leading tungsten producers. According to the US Geological Survey, it is the only African country among the world’s 10 biggest tungsten producers.
The new venture also comes ahead of US defence procurement rules expected to take effect in January 2027. The rules will require certain tungsten used in military supply chains to be traceable to its original source.
The agreement could therefore strengthen Rwanda’s role in the international supply of tungsten while supporting the country’s efforts to process more minerals locally instead of exporting raw materials.
